Program Manager, Cement & Building Materials

About the Role

The global cement sector is responsible for around 8% of global CO2 emissions, and our team is dedicated to decarbonizing this sector.  The Program Manager will play a crucial, role in driving the Cement & Building Materials team’s strategic priorities and grantmaking portfolio. This position reports to the Director of Cement and Building Materials. In addition to providing grants to a wide range of organizations, our team plays a convening and connecting role between our global partners, where the Program Manager will  engage with some of the leading organizations working on cement and industrial decarbonization worldwide.

The position will require a well-organized, detail-oriented, analytically minded self-starter with strong writing, communication, research, and project management skills. Equally importantly, we are looking for someone who is highly passionate about decarbonizing the cement and building materials sectors and is prepared to wear many hats to support the mission of our team. You will join a fun, tight-knit, and collaborative team who are very passionate about solving the climate crisis.

Department Summary

About the Global Industry Hub

Based at ClimateWorks, the Global Industry Hub (Hub) accelerates the decarbonization of heavy industry by mobilizing philanthropic and catalytic capital toward high-impact opportunities in steel, cement, and chemicals. The Hub operates as a neutral, creative, and catalytic systems platform, connecting funders, governments, industry, CSOs, innovators, and development institutions. It turns complex, capital-intensive transitions into investable, competitive, and climate-aligned industrial paths. Its work bridges policy innovation, economic design, financial alignment, and institutional strengthening, enabling the early projects and long-term reforms needed to rebuild global industrial systems for a net-zero economy. By combining systems thinking, technical insights, and convening power, the Global Industry Hub helps partners achieve far greater leverage and shift industrial ecosystems toward resilient, inclusive, and sustainable futures.

How you will contribute

Grantmaking and Program Oversight (40%)

●        Manage the full lifecycle of grants within their portfolio, including scoping, assessment, structuring, and evaluation.

●        Manage relationships with grantees, including understanding their needs and circumstances, ensuring the effective two-way flow of information, and receiving regular reports.

●        Identify and assess new opportunities across cement and building materials with particular attention to emerging markets. 

●        Collaborate with peers and other teams at CWF to support effective grantmaking and action on cross-cutting strategies

●        Provide guidance and mentoring to colleagues at Global Industry Hub and other teams at CWF.

Knowledge Exchange and Stakeholder Engagement (30%)

●        Attend relevant events globally

●        Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders including grantees, re-grantors, funders, academic and industry experts, and other partners.

●        Monitor and stay informed about relevant innovations, decarbonization pathways, and policies, particularly in Africa, India, and Asia.

●        Identify and execute opportunities for knowledge exchange among internal and external stakeholders through webinars, meetings, blog posts, etc.

●        Prepare proposals, documents, briefings, budgets, communications materials, etc., for sharing with internal and external stakeholders.

●        Ensure knowledge is shared through written communications and online or in-person events.

Strategy Development & Execution (20%)

●        Partner with the Director of Cement & Building Materials to shape and execute strategic plans and grantmaking priorities.

●        Identify potential new grantees and work with the Director of Cement & Building Materials to vet them and develop potential grants.  

●        Support the Director of Cement & Building Materials with funder outreach, including attending meetings and writing proposals.

Other Duties As Assigned (10%)

●     Support the Cement & Building Materials Director and Program Manager in their responsibilities

●     Participate in program team, GIH and ClimateWorks meetings and retreats.

●     Other duties as assigned

Required qualifications

●        5–7 years of experience in program management, grantmaking, or partnership development in climate, industry, or related fields.

●        Strong understanding of industrial decarbonization, particularly in cement & building materials, along with knowledge of the cement, concrete, and building industry more generally

●        While based in a European time zone, this person will need to work across global time zones, including frequent calls with the core team in California, and regular calls with India, Africa, and Asia.

●        Availability for international travel: ~three to four trips per year.

●        Experience managing grants or working with non-profits, foundations, or multilateral initiatives.

●        Excellent written and oral communication skills, including writing for general audiences.

●        Resourcefulness, good judgment, and a commitment to excellence, integrity, and continuous learning.

●        Ability to initiate and manage projects, and to work effectively and efficiently with minimal supervision

●        Research and analytical skills to identify and evaluate solutions and innovative ideas.

●        Commitment to the mission and values of the Global Industry Hub, including a passion for solving climate change.

●        Caring and generous attitude toward colleagues, grantees, and partners, and a commitment to supporting people to build careers and institutions. 

●        Commitment to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment.

Desired Qualifications:

●        Master's degree in engineering, policy, or another relevant field is preferred.

●        Experience working in India, Africa, Southeast Asia, and/or other emerging markets.

Location

ClimateWorks Foundation is based in the San Francisco Financial District. This position is classified as Europe-based.

We are looking for someone currently based in BST (British Standard Time) or CET (Central European Time), or areas with the same time as BST or CET (e.g., West Africa).

Compensation

International salary range to be determined based on the location and local cost of labor.

• • We recognize that compensation and benefits can vary across countries and understand that this can raise important questions. Our goal is to ensure fairness, equity, and competitiveness within each local context. To achieve this, we align our compensation structure with the economic conditions, labor market dynamics, and social benefit systems of the regions where we operate.
  • Salaries are determined based on country-specific labor markets, allowing us to offer pay that is competitive within each region and consistent with other international organizations. Compensation is intentionally structured to be above leading local market averages and appropriate to the regional cost of labor. This approach supports our commitment to equity across our global workforce while enabling us to attract and retain top talent in diverse locations.
  • For example, the salary range for this position in the United Kingdom would be: GBP 90,000 - GBP 95,000 annually. A competitive benefits package is offered through Pebl, a third-party PEO. 

Benefits

ClimateWorks provides employees with a competitive benefits package, including: 

·         100% healthcare coverage plans (medical, dental, and vision). 

·         20 days of paid time off for first-year employees, with incremental paid time off in subsequent years; 14 paid holidays annually; and paid sabbatical leave for qualifying employees. 

·         401(k) plan with contributions from ClimateWorks and matching employee contributions.

·         Life insurance and disability (short-term and long-term) coverage.

·         Support for families, including fertility, child, elder, and pet care.

·         Access to physical wellness benefits (e.g., gym memberships, fitness equipment), financial wellness (e.g., financial planning services), and mental wellness (e.g., therapy and coaching).  

Culture

ClimateWorks’ culture is rooted in our core values: collaboration, humility, curiosity, learning, and risk-taking. We come together around shared goals, draw strength from diverse perspectives, and face challenges with an open mind. We grow through experience and boldly experiment to drive meaningful impact in climate philanthropy. Together, we turn ambition into action—spotting big opportunities, convening people, and helping scale bold solutions.

As a globally distributed organization, ClimateWorks offers multiple opportunities each year for staff to meet in person, foster relationships, and enhance collaboration. Staff are expected to attend an in-town week in San Francisco, an all-staff retreat, and a department retreat annually.

About ClimateWorks Foundation

ClimateWorks Foundation is a catalyst for accelerating climate progress, driving bold solutions that benefit people and the planet. We connect funders and implementing organizations worldwide to identify and scale transformative solutions across sectors and geographies, achieving faster, greater impact together. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $2 billion to more than 850 grantees across 50 countries, working with over 80 funders.

ClimateWorks Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer

ClimateWorks Foundation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. We make decisions about all aspects of our employment practices, without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, sex (including childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), pregnancy, uniform service member and veteran status, citizenship status, disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws. 

As part of our commitment to centering diverse people and perspectives and providing equal opportunities, we ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application process, please note that in your application. 

How to apply

Follow the link below to apply for this position. Please note that ClimateWorks will never request applicants’ credit card or financial information during the interview process. Should you receive a message requesting this information, please report it to ClimateWorks. All current job openings are listed on our careers page:www.climateworks.org/careers.